When the storm rumbles, the waters of the Grône stir and the boiling fields remind us of the place’s namesake. Simply add ‘Musigny’, as the Chambolliens did in 1878, and our etymological curiosity is satisfied.
The wines of Chambolle-Musigny have an incredible reputation, resting on 61 hectares classified as Premier Cru and 13.5 hectares of Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru. To this are added the 10.8 hectares of Musigny Grand Cru. The Chambolle-Musigny The appellation has existed since 1936, the year the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine) was established. Chambolle-Musigny was also one of the first villages to host the Saint-Vincent Tournante which began in 1938..
The wines of Chambolle-Musigny, exclusively red, stand out for their natural elegance: velvety, and fleshy with exquisite perfumes of strawberry, raspberry and peony. They offer a remarkable balance of delicate sensations and solid structure. Noteworthy among the Premiers Crus are Les Charmes, Les Noirots, Les Fuées, Aux Echanges, la Combe d’Orveau and above all the famous Amoureuses. This climat, located just below the Musigny, has a charming name and is the epitome of finesse, delicacy, and aromatic refinement.
The Grand Cru Musigny is highly sought after for its elegant aromas, full-bodied structure and smooth tannins. Musigny is the most feminine Grand Cru of the Côte de Nuits. The grace of its bouquet, its harmony and its natural suavity place it in this categorie. The Domaine de Vogüé owns three quarters of the vineyard and has the monopoly of the white Musigny Grand Cru.
Bonnes Mares is the Chambolle’s other Grand Cru; only a tenth of its surface area lies within the commune of Morey-Saint-Denis. While exhibiting feminine characteristics, Bonnes-Mares tends to be full-bodied, powerful and highly perfumed, with notes of spices and violets, and has good longevity.
The Comte Georges de Vogüé estate is one of the rare estates of the Côte d’Or whose history began before the Revolution, its vines having been maintained over some twenty generations. Around 1450, Jean Moisson had the residence built that would form the nucleus of the property. The medieval building still stands, expanded in the 18th century and again in the 21st century. It was Comte Georges de Vogüé, who inherited the estate in 1925, who brought the wines their fame. His daughter, Elisabeth de Ladoucette, took up her father’s torch in 1987, carried on today by her granddaughters. The Vogüé vineyard, located entirely within the Chambolle boundaries, is arranged around Musigny, its jewel; it holds more than 7 hectares there, including all of the Petits Musigny climat. Only vines over 25 years old go into the making of Musigny Vieilles Vignes, which is the exclusive Grand Cru cuvée, all the rest being declassified to the simple Chambolle-Musigny appellation. The estate holds the monopoly of the white Musigny, which the Comte de Vogüé planted out of love for his wife. The estate’s other Grand Cru, Bonnes Mares (2.7 ha), comes from the parcels closest to the village.
When the storm rumbles, the waters of the Grône stir and the fields that seem to boil remind us of the origin of the place’s name. One only needs to add Musigny, as the people of Chambolle did in 1878, and our etymological curiosity is satisfied.
The richness of Chambolle-Musigny also lies in a remarkable architectural heritage. The church of Sainte-Barbe and Saint-Sébastien stands out for its imperial dome-shaped bell tower, and its choir and mural paintings dating from 1539 are protected as historical monuments. There is the Sainte-Anne fountain in the centre of the village, as well as many manor houses, a former coaching inn, the 18th-century Château Grivelet, the 19th-century Château Mugnier, and the Château du Petit-Musigny (Ziltener), today a hotel and wine museum.
Chambolle-Musigny also stands out for its magnificent Sully lime tree, which rises majestically in front of the church, standing 17.5 m tall with a circumference of 8.70 m. Planted at the instigation of Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, during the reign of King Henry IV so that its flowers could be used to treat the sick, it ranks among the most remarkable trees in France.
An essential stop on the route of the Grands Crus, the small village of Chambolle-Musigny embodies Burgundian elegance, where the stones and landscapes tell you the most beautiful of stories.
